access control point (ACP)--a location staffed to restrict the entry of unauthorized personnel into a risk area. Access control is normally performed just outside of the risk area. It involves the deployment of vehicles, barricades, or other measures to deny access to a particular area.

accident assessment--the evaluation of the nature, severity, and impact of an accident. In CSEPP, the Army will be primarily responsible for accident assessment.

alert and notification system--a combination of sirens and tone-alert radios to be used in the IRZ and selected portions of the PAZ to provide alert and emergency instructions to the public.

blister agent--see vesicant agent.

Chemical Accident/Incident Response and Assistance (CAIRA) Plan--a federal plan (DA Pam 50-6; Headquarters, Dept. of the Army, 1991) that defines the federal response at an Army installation which is the emergency response to and recovery from a chemical event. This plan must be coordinated carefully with local and state plans. An updated version is currently under development and is expected to reach review draft stage in 1996.

chemical agent (military term)--a chemical substance that is intended for use in military operations to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate a person through its physiological effects. Excluded from consideration are riot control agents, chemical herbicides, smoke, and flame.

chemical event (military term)--a term used by the military that deals with chemical accidents or incidents that involve chemical surety materiel. It includes (1) chemical accidents resulting from nondeliberate events where safety is of primary concern and (2) chemical incidents resulting from deliberate acts or criminal acts where security is a concern.

Chemical Event Emergency Notification System--a tiered system whereby the Army classifies chemical surety emergencies according to expected downwind hazard distance and provides appropriate notification to off-post public officials. The system consists of a minimum of three surety emergency levels (based on the predicted downwind distance of the no-effects dosage) and one non-surety event level.

chemical limited area--see limited area.

Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program (CSDP)--the congressionally mandated program that requires the Army to dispose of all its unitary chemical agents. The preferred mode of disposition is on-post incineration.

Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)--a joint DA/FEMA program to oversee and assist in the development of adequate emergency response plans and capabilities for all jurisdictions that might be affected by a chemical release associated with CSDP activities.

chemical surety (military term)--those controls, procedures, and actions that contribute to the safety, security, and reliability of chemical agents and their associated weapon systems throughout their life cycle without degrading operational performance.

chemical surety materiel (military term)--chemical agents and their associated weapons systems or storage and shipping containers that are either adopted or being considered for military use.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)--a federal law (P.L. 96-510) that deals with hazardous substance releases into the environment and the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. This act was amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) in 1986.

D2PC--a air dispersion model developed by the Army to estimate downwind hazard distances from atmospheric releases of chemical agents.

decibel (dB)--a measure of sound pressure, which determines loudness. The abbreviation, "dB", is often followed by an "A", "B", or "C" to indicate the method used to weight sound frequencies when measuring sound pressure levels.

decontamination (military term)--the process of decreasing the amount of chemical agent on any person, object, or area by absorbing, neutralizing, destroying, ventilating, or removing chemical agents.

direction and control exercise--an activity in which emergency preparedness officials respond to a simulated incident. It mobilizes emergency management and communications organizations and officials. Some field response organizations may be involved.

demilitarization--the mutilation, destruction, or neutralization of chemical surety materiel, rendering it harmless and ineffectual for military purposes.

Emergency Alert System (EAS)--a system being created by the Federal Communications Commission to replace the Emergency Broadcast System as a means of using communications facilities to alert the public of emergencies. The EAS requires participation by cable TV systems in addition to broadcast stations, and encourages the voluntary participation of satellite carriers, Direct Broadcast Satellite vendors, and public service providers. It also establishes new technical standards and operational procedures. The EAS is scheduled to replace the EBS on January 1, 1997.

Emergency Broadcast System (EBS)--a federally established network of commercial radio stations that voluntarily provide official emergency instructions or directions to the public during an emergency. Priorities for EBS activation and use are: (1) federal government, (2) local government, and (3) state government. For CSEPP the EBS will provide supplementary alert and notification for the IRZ.

emergency operating center (EOC)--the location or facility where responsible officials gather during an emergency to direct and coordinate emergency operations, to communicate with other jurisdictions and with field emergency forces, and to formulate protective action decisions.

emergency operations plan (EOP)--a plan developed in accord with the guidance in Civil Preparedness Guide 1-8 and other similar guides. EOPs are multihazard, functional plans that treat emergency management activities generically. EOPs have a basic section that provides generally applicable information without reference to any particular hazard. Plans also address the unique aspects of individual disasters in hazard-specific appendixes.

Emergency Planning Guide (EPG)--a set of location-specific documents being developed to analyze the characteristics of each chemical agent stockpile location that are pertinent to emergency planning and to provide a step-by-step guide for preparing site-specific Protective Action Strategy Plans. The EPG will supersede the site-specific ERCPs.

emergency planning zone (EPZ)--a geographical area delineated around a potential hazard generator that defines the potential area of impact. Zones facilitate planning for the protection of people during an emergency.

Emergency Response Concept Plan (ERCP)--the conceptual basis for developing local emergency response programs for the CSDP, developed as a supporting document to the "Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement."

enhanced shelter-in-place--a protective action that is similar to normal shelter-in-place except that it involves taking shelter in a structure to which weatherization techniques to permanently reduce the rate at which air or chemical agent seeps into the structure have been applied before initiation of the emergency. Effectiveness is improved by going into an interior room. The shelter should be opened up or abandoned after the toxic plume has passed.

evacuation--a protective action that involves leaving an area of risk until the hazard has passed and the area is safe for return.

exclusion area (military term)--the area immediately surrounding one or more receptacles in which chemical agents are contained. Normally, the boundaries of an exclusion area are the walls, floor, and ceiling of a storage structure, secure container, or a barrier that establishes the boundary (such as an igloo or fence).

Executive Council--a committee established by a DA/FEMA Joint Memorandum for the Record in February 1994. The Executive Council, which is made up of members from DA and FEMA, is the principal policy-setting and decision-making body for CSEPP.

expedient shelter-in-place--a protective action that is similar to normal shelter-in-place except that, after going into the room selected as a shelter at the time of the emergency, the inhabitants take measures to reduce the rate at which air or chemical agent enters the room. Such measures would include taping around doors and windows and covering vents and electrical outlets with plastic. Effectiveness is improved if the room selected as a shelter is an interior room. The shelter should be opened up or abandoned after the plume has passed.

first federal official (FFO)--the first federal representative of a participating agency of the National Response Team arriving at the scene of discharge or release. The FFO coordinates activities under the National Contingency Plan.

full-scale exercise--an activity in which emergency preparedness officials respond to a simulated incident. It mobilizes the entire emergency organization or its major parts.

GA--see nerve agent.

GB--see nerve agent.

H--see mustard agent.

HD--see mustard agent.

hospital environment--a term used in medical preparedness guidelines (Appendix I) referring to the hospital emergency department plus any outdoor areas on the hospital grounds that might be used for triage and decontamination during a chemical agent emergency as well as other hospital departments that might support the hospital’s response.

HT--see mustard agent.

immediate response zone (IRZ)--the planning zone immediately surrounding each Army installation. Generally it extends to about 10 km (6 miles) from the installation's chemical storage area. At some installations, it extends to about 15 km (9 miles).

incident command system (ICS)--the combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure to manage assigned resources to effectively respond to an incident.

Initial Response Force (IRF)--an emergency action organization tasked to provide first response to a chemical event at an installation assigned a chemical surety mission. Under command of the installation commander, the IRF is comprised of command and control elements and emergency teams capable of providing emergency medical services and initiating those actions necessary to prevent, minimize, or mitigate hazards to public health and safety or to the environment.

institutional populations--people in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons or other facilities that require special care or consideration by virtue of their dependency on others for appropriate protection.

intergovernmental consultation and coordination boards (ICCBs)--the national and local boards composed of federal, state, and local members that provide for information transfer in the Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program.

Joint Information Center (JIC)--a single location where public information officials gather to collaborate on and coordinate the release of emergency public information.

Lewisite--an organic arsenical blister agent; a brown or colorless liquid that is part of the unitary chemical stockpile of vesicants.

limited area (military term)--the area immediately surrounding one or more exclusion areas. Normally, the area between the boundaries of the exclusion areas and the perimeter boundary.

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)--the planning body designated by Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, Title III legislation as the planning body for preparing local hazardous materials plans.

mass care center--a facility for providing emergency lodging and care for people made temporarily homeless by an emergency. Essential basic services (feeding, family reunification, etc.) are provided.

maximum credible event--the worst single event likely to occur from the release of chemical agent as a result of an unintended, unplanned, or accidental event. It has a reasonable probability of happening.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)--the written agreement (August 1988) whereby the Army and Federal Emergency Management Agency have agreed to collaborate on the emergency preparedness aspects of the Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program.

mustard agent--the vesicant agents (H, HD, and HT) that cause blistering. In sufficient amounts they can be fatal if inhaled or if not quickly removed from exposed skin.

National Contingency Plan (NCP)--"The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan" (40 CFR Part 300) prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency to put into effect the response powers and responsibilities created by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the authorities established by Sect. 311 of the Clean Water Act.

National Defense Area (NDA) (military term)--an area established on nonfederal lands located within the United States, its possessions, or territories for the purpose of safeguarding classified defense information or protecting Department of Defense equipment or material.

National Response Center--a communications center for activities related to hazardous materials response actions, located at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, DC. The center receives and relays notices of discharges or releases to the appropriate on-scene coordinator, disseminates on-scene coordinator and Regional Response Team reports to the National Response Team when appropriate, and provides facilities for the National Response Team to use in coordinating a national response action when required.

National Response Team--the group consisting of representatives of 14 government agencies (Department of Defense, Department of Interior, Department of Transportation/Research and Special Programs Administration, Department of Transportation/U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Commerce, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Department of Energy) that implements the National Contingency Plan.

nerve agent--the nerve agents (GA, GB, and VX) are lethal colorless, odorless, and tasteless agents that can be fatal upon skin contact or when inhaled. These agents attack the central nervous system by inhibiting the production of acetylcholinesterase, which is essential for proper operation of the nervous system.

no deaths distance--a calculated distance downwind from a chemical agent release beyond which a toxicity level is not expected to result in acute human fatalities via inhalation exposure.

no effects distance--a calculated distance downwind from a chemical agent release beyond which a toxicity level is not expected to have short-term adverse effects on humans via inhalation exposure.

normal shelter-in-place--a protective action that involves taking cover in a building, closing all doors and windows, and turning off ventilation systems. Effectiveness is improved by going into an interior room. The shelter should be opened up or abandoned after the toxic plume has passed.

off-post--the area surrounding a military installation or facility.

on-post--a military installation or facility.

on-scene coordinator (OSC)--the federal official predesignated by the EPA or the Coast Guard to coordinate and direct federal responses under subpart D of the NCP, or the official designated by the lead agency to coordinate and direct removal actions under subpart E of the NCP. DOD and DOE are included as OSC under subpart E.

percutaneous exposure--exposure that occurs through the skin.

population at risk (PAR)--the population potentially affected by concentrations of agent. The PAR is calculated by determining the population within the radial distance estimated to be affected by lethal dosages of agent from a release.

precautionary zone (PZ)--the outermost zone extending beyond the protective action zone. Theoretically, it has no limits. Practically, its furthest point is that beyond which emergency planning for the CSEPP would not be required under most conditions.

prehospital environment--a term used in medical preparedness guidelines (Appendix I) to indicate all emergency response areas which are outside both the Army installation boundaries and the hospital grounds.

pressurized shelter-in-place--a protective action that is similar to normal shelter-in-place except that the infiltration of contaminated air from outside the shelter is effectively prohibited by drawing outside air into the shelter through a filter that removes chemical agent. This filtered air creates a positive pressure in the shelter so that clean air is leaking out instead of contaminated air leaking in.

primary receiving hospital--a hospital that is designated by state or local disaster plans to provide initial medical care to the civilian population in the event of a chemical warfare release.

protection factor--the measure of exposure reduction provided by a protective device or shelter. A protection factor of 100 means that the protected exposure is 1/100th of the unprotected exposure.

protective action--an action or measure taken to avoid or reduce exposure to a hazard.

protective action decision making--the process whereby off-post public officials make a selection of one or more actions to protect the threatened population. The Army will make recommendations as part of its accident assessment and off-post notification processes.

protective action zone (PAZ)--the second planning zone beyond the immediate response zone. Generally it extends to about 18 to 35 miles from the installation's chemical storage area, and at some installations it extends further.

public alert and notification system--the system for obtaining the attention of the public and providing appropriate emergency information. Sirens are the most commonly used public alert devices but frequently are supplemented by tone alert radios, visual warning devices for the hearing impaired, and telephone-based alert/notification systems.

public affairs officer (PAO)--the Army installation person responsible for public affairs. The PAO is the installation counterpart to the off-post Public Information Officer (PIO).

public information officer (PIO)--the person on the emergency management team who is in charge of public information affairs. The PIO is the counterpart to the on-post Public Affairs Officer (PAO).

Regional Response Team (RRT)--the representatives of federal agencies and a representative from each state in the federal region. During a response to a major hazardous materials incident involving transportation or a fixed facility, the on-scene coordinator may request that the RRT be convened to provide advice or recommendations in specific issues requiring resolution.

route alerting--this is normally a supplement to the public alert system and is a method for alerting people in areas not covered by the primary system or in the event of failure of the primary system. Route alerting is accomplished by emergency personnel in vehicles traveling along assigned roads and delivering emergency instructions with public address systems or by door-to-door notification.

secondary contamination--chemical agent contamination that occurs due to contact with a contaminated person or object rather than to direct contact with liquid agent in the atmosphere; cross contamination.

Service Response Force (SRF) (military term)--a DA-level emergency response organization, commanded by a general officer, capable of performing and sustaining the chemical accident/incident response and assistance mission. The SRF is comprised of the IRF and follow-on forces consisting of a staff and specialized teams from various agencies and organizations involved in the response to and recovery from a chemical event.

shelter-in-place--a protective action that involves taking cover in a building. Generally, any building suitable for winter habitation will provide some protection with windows and doors closed and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems turned off. Effectiveness can be increased by methods such as using an interior room or basement, taping doors and windows, and employing other systems to limit natural ventilation. In CSEPP there are four types of shelter-in-place: normal, expedient, enhanced, and pressurized.

Site-specific Emergency Response Concept Plan--a concept plan developed for a specific chemical agent stockpile location by applying the concepts and methodologies of the ERCP. Each site-specific concept plan categorizes the chemical events that could occur at that location and examines the topographic, meteorological, and population characteristics of the area to develop proposed EPZ boundaries and identify appropriate protective actions. (See Sect. 9, Item 11.)

special populations--those individuals or groups that may be institutionalized or have needs that require special consideration in emergencies.

State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)--the state planning group designated by SARA, Title III legislation as the state coordinating body for hazardous materials activities.

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA)--Public law that amended CERCLA. Title III of SARA includes detailed provisions for community emergency planning for fixed chemical facilities.

surety--see chemical surety.

tertiary receiving hospital--a hospital that receives referrals from primary receiving hospitals. Additional services such as burn care, psychiatric service, and toxicologic consultation are available at the tertiary level of care.

Title III--the "Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986." A law that requires the establishment of state and local planning structures (SERCs and LEPCs) for emergency planning for hazardous materials incidents. It requires (1) location site-specific planning around extremely hazardous substances, (2) participation in the planning process by facilities storing or using hazardous substances, and (3) notifications to SERCs and LEPCs of releases of certain hazardous substances. It also provides for mechanisms to provide information on hazardous chemicals to the public.

traffic control point (TCP)--a location that is staffed to ensure the continued movement of traffic inside or outside an area of risk. Traffic control is a temporary function to be implemented at points where normal traffic controls are inadequate or where redirection of traffic becomes necessary due to emergency conditions.

unitary chemical munitions--munitions designed to contain a single-component chemical agent for release on a target.

vesicant agent--a chemical agent such as sulfur mustard (HD) or Lewisite (L) that induces blistering and tissue damage.

VX--see nerve agent.